MAPS OF PLACES

I'm starting to have this thing for old maps - kinda played out, but their charm is just hitting me now. I had these wood frames made from some old barn wood my dad had lying around.

[The Columbian map is a 1940s war map that was tucked in the end pages of an atlas I scored at an estate sale for $5]

[A friend of mine found the Paris map on the street in Seattle. I knew it needed to be displayed and loved so who better to give it to then my Parisian-loving (in more ways then one) roommate.]

SAN JUAN PLUSH

Despite the fact Father's Day came and went a month ago, my dad received his handmade reward for being an outstanding fatherly figure last weekend. But worth the wait it was. As an avid boater and island explorer, my dad likes both maps and cozy adornments for his boat. Infuse these interests and obviously you get a felt San Juan Island throw pillow.

[First I printed out a map of the islands and then tediously cut each little land mass out of paper]

[Then the felt was cut out from the paper pattern]

[Then pinned to the background piece and stitched]

[And finally, Godfrey graced it with his good luck]

Woof.

BABY BABUSHKA

[Baby Babushka Quilt Pattern, $8.99]

My immensely talented mother has finally taken her skills to the internet and opened an Etsy store. Actually, I opened it for her but at least it's a step in the web-savvy direction for an old women lost in the chaos of the internet. You can find her Baby Babushka Quilt Pattern at the Quilting Carrie Pattern store.

Here is the beautiful quilt she made her pattern from:

THANKS, URBAN OUTFITTERS

Last night I came across the pleasant discovery that the Urban Outfitters Blog had re-posted my Fudge Package post since I used their beautiful catalog as wrapping. Thanks UO! You can find their repost here.

LOVE CATS

So, I make cat pillows. No, not pillows for cats to lie on. No, I make pillows – throw-pillows if you will – that make-up a shape that slightly resembles a feline [and by slightly I do mean abstractly]. I think they are cute as hell and creating them helps tame my urge to establish a small kitty compound. As Valentine’s Day nears, I decided to design some little love cats.

[I ran out of black floss so I will display the final project as soon as I get in a trip to Jo-Ann's]

The mainstream imagery of Valentine’s Day makes me want to gag but I absolutely adore the rich colors of these silk, rayon and polyester fabrics I used to make these little guys. The names of these prints [paprika, claret, merlot, sorbet and roset] are far more romantic then the trite pink and red color scheme of the holiday.

SOUNDTRACK

Tanlines Real Life